Leiden University Student Repository

Schreur, Jeroen (2023)

Forever Standing on the National Pedestal? The Shifting Heroism of Admiral Yi Sunsin

Bachelor thesis | Koreastudies (BA)

Among Korea’s historical figures Yi Sunsin is one of its most revered heroes. Admiral Yi made his name during the Imjin War (1592-1598) by giving his life to fend off the Japanese navy and thereby saving the Korean Peninsula. His spirit of overcoming national disaster was revived at the dawn of Japanese colonial rule through the research of Korean elites pleading for Chosŏn to become a modern and strong nation. This same task was continued by Park Chung-hee who once again called upon the spirit of Admiral Yi Sunsin, and made him the hero of the modern nation: Republic of Korea. This strategy of using a historical figure to fit political goals can be seen as an example of politics of memory. When analysing the image of Yi Sunsin presented over the last decennia, it becomes clear the admiral has been continuously used for the politics of memory: the image of Admiral Yi is recreated to support the policies and political agendas of the ruling government.

Yi Sunsin

politics of memory

collective memory

Park Chung-hee

Author

Schreur, Jeroen

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Supervisors

de Ceuster, K.

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en